Beware of jobs offered through e-mail

Cacdac

Job applicants should take extra caution against tempting overseas employment offers through email that turn out to be non-existent.

Hans Cacdac, who was speaking as administrator of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (he now heads the Overseas Workers' Welfare Administration), cited Omegal Manpower Services Limited that offered commissions to manpower brokers or individuals that can supply workers for various job openings in Canada, Mexico, and Europe.

The company, which claimed to be based in Ireland, sent electronic mails promising agency commissions to local recruiters an amount equivalent to one month salary of every worker supplied.

An Internet search, however, revealed that Omegal Manpower Services Limited does not exist, Cacdac said.

He said applicants should not fall prey to unscrupulous individuals who post supposed job vacancies in fake websites and Facebook pages, especially those that require immediate payment of fees.
“Job applicants should also ignore unsolicited emails that offer jobs in hotels and hospitals but requires applicants to pay fees for testing, interview and language seminar, or visa orientation”, Cacdac said.

Applicants should validate the authenticity of job offers through POEA’s verification system at the website poea.gov.ph, mobile phone application, or by calling its telephone hotlines 7221144 and 7221155, Cacdac advised.

Nearly 700 take board exam for teachers

Examinees wait at the holding area of the Bayanihan Center in Kennedy Town  for the opening of the exam rooms.

By Marites Palma

A total of 695 overseas Filipino workers took the licensure examination for teachers on Sept. 25 at the Bayanihan Centre in   Kennedy Town Centre.

The examinees, whose ages ranged between 24 to 45 years old, were all women, except one who came all the way from Macau, along with five other hopefuls.

Most managed to heed the call to be at the examination venue by 6am, although the examination was not due to start until 8am.  However, a few managed to make it only at around 10am as they could not leave their employers' houses early, or had to travel all the way from the New Territories.

Judging from the time it took them to finish the exam, some seemed to have found it a breeze, while the others either struggled, or were careful not to rush their answers.  Some finished at 2:30pm, while others took it all the way to the finish, emerging only at 6:30pm.

Among the eager-beavers was first-time examinee Myrna Vio, who arrived at Bayanihan at 5 am to ensure that she wouldn't be late for the examination for which reviewed for more than. two months. Vio said she found the exam difficult, but she was hopeful she'd make the grade. She also told The SUN that she spent all her Sundays from July 4 to Sept 18 attending review classes at Bayanihan. She also took every chance she could get to review on her own, despite being very tired from doing household chores. She brushed up on her studies every night before going to sleep, and again upon waking up the next morning.

Another early bird was Bhessie R. Atrero, 36 yrs old, who arrived at Bayanihan at 5:30am. Atrero had taken the examination in the Philippines once in 2008, and she remembered that experience as more difficult, especially the mathematics part. She said she was more confident with the way she performed in her second try in Hong Kong.

Jitters almost got the better of Brenda R. Macabolot when she arrived at Bayanihan, but her incessant prayers for divine wisdom gave her the confidence she needed to tough it out. She said she had attended the review classes but was always late because she wanted to go to church first, believing that God would make her dream turn to reality.

Those who administered the test were 70 proctors and room watchers, of whom six came from the Professional Regulation Commission,and the rest from the National Organization of Professional Teachers -Hong Kong.and other teachers' groups.

Josephine V. Liamson, a direcfor at the Department of Education, told the volunteers that Philippine President Rodrigo R. Duterte plans to create an office for OFWs which will coordinate government efforts in helpjng the needy, and encourage OFWs to go home and be with their family members.
Liamson said there's more reason to return home now, with the teachers' salary having risen significantly.

Anak ni Andi, si Jake ang ama

Limang taon makalipas ang mainit na usapin tungkol sa kung sino talaga ang ama ng ipinagbubuntis noon ng batang aktres na si Andi Eigenmann, ngayon ay nagkaroon na ito ng kasagutan. Kinumpirma ni Maxine Eigenmann, half sister ni Andi, na si Jake Ejercito ang tunay na ama ng anak ni Andi na si Ellie, nang banggitin niya ito sa programang Good Times With Mo Twister noong September 22.

Sa isang bahagi ng podcast, sinabi ni Max na hindi na siya naninibago sa away –bati nina Jake at Andi dahil dati na silang ganito, pero gusto pa rin niya ang dalawa bilang couple, at saka niya idinagdag na “ you know that he’s the father of my niece, right?” Sinagot ni Mo na alam niyang si Jake ang tumatayong non-biological father ni Ellie, pero iginiit ni Max na si Jake ang tunay na ama ng bata, batay daw sa test na isinagawa. Kaya nga daw co-parenting ang ginagawa ng dalawa, at kaya panay daw ang post ni Jake ng mga larawan ni Ellie sa social media. Hindi na raw nangailangan na ipaglaban pa ang visitation rights ni Jake dahil nakikita naman niya ang anak anumang oras o araw niya gusto.

Hindi in good terms ngayon ang dalawa, at kamakailan ay nagkasagutan pa sa Twitter, nang tinawag ni Jake na "fake” si Andi, na sinagot naman nito na “talentless” daw si Jake.
Ayon pa kay Max, isang taon nang may karelasyon si Andi ngayon, isang surfer, na kapatid ng kaibigan niya.

Sa ngayon ay wala pang komento o anumang reaksyon mula kina Andi at Jake, samantalang si Albie Casino, na lumabas na kontrabida dahil siya ang itinuturong ama ng ipinagbubuntis ni Andi noon, ay parang nabunutan na daw siya ng tinik sa dibdib. Nagpapasalamat daw siya dahil lumabas din ang katotohanan, at pati na sa mga taong naniwala at sumuporta sa kanya.

Naging masalimuot ang love life ni Andi noon dahil naging boyfriend niya si Albie nang mag-break sila ni Jake, at bago lumabas ang balita na buntis siya. Nagalit ang pamilya ng aktres, lalo na ang ama niyang si Mark Gil kay Albie, kaya napilitan itong mag-lie low at balikan ang pag-aaral. Pansamantala rin itong lumipat ng ibang network.

Sa ngayon ay unti-unti nang nakakabawi si Albie nang muli siyang kinuha ng Kapamilya network at at nagkakasunod-sunod na uli ang kanyang projects.

BONG, NAGDIWANG NG 50TH BIRTHDAY 

Star studded ang 50th birthday party ni Bong Revilla na ginanap sa PNP Custodial Center noong September 23. Dinaluhan ito ng kanyang pamilya, sa pangunguna ng kanyang asawang si Lani Mercado at kanilang mga anak, mga kaibigan sa pulitika, kaibigan sa showbiz na sina Philip Salvador, Lorna Tolentino, Ricky Davao, Bayani Agbayani, Edu Manzano, Tirso Cruz III, Mayor Joseph Estrada, at anak nito at cellmate ni Bong na si Jinggoy Estrada, Mother Lily, Lolit Solis at sina Marco Sison at Mark Bautista na inimbitahang umawit ni Lolit.

Kasamang dumating ni Jolo Revilla si Jodi Sta. Maria, kaya kumpirmadong nagkabalikan na ang dalawa, matapos silang mag-break ilang buwan lang ang nakalipas. Ipinakilala naman kay Edu ng dating girlfriend ng anak niyang si Adi, (at pamangkin ni Bong) na si Cheska, ang bagong boyfriend nito, ang Kapuso actor na si Juancho Trivino.

Sa kayang maikling pananalita, sinabi ni Mayor Estrada na umaasa siyang makakalaya na rin sa lalong madaling panahon sina Bong at Jinggoy, na dalawang taon nang naka-piit.

Pinangakuan nina Mother Lily at ilang executives ng GMA Network na dumalo na bibigyan nila ng project si Bong kapag nakalaya na ito. Tapos na ang termino ni Bong at Jinggoy bilang mga senador.

DO RE MI, MAY REMAKE?

Nasa Pilipinas ngayon si Rachelle Ann Go, at kamakailan ay nag-post ng mga larawan kasama ang matalik na kaibigang sina Yeng Constantino at Sarah Geronimo, sa isang party na siya ang nag-host. Nilagyan niya ito ng caption na “Y.R.S. reunited,” na tumutukoy sa Y.R.S. segment nila sa ASAP noon. “Ang saya saya lang namen. Sobrang namiss namin ang isa't isa.” Idinagdag din niya: “DoReMi remake??? What you think? Hmmm. I love these ladies so much!"

Agad namang umani ng positibong feedback ang kanyang pagbibiro, dahil marami ang nagsabi na bagay daw sa kanila na gawin ang remake ng pelikulang “Do Re Mi” na malaking hit noon, at pinagbidahan nina Regine Velasquez, Mikee Cojuangco at Donna Cruz, 20 taon na ang nakakaraan.
Nauna nang naungkat ang muling paggawa ng Do Re Mi nitong Agosto matapos magkasama sa sina Regine at Donna noong July 30 para sa “PLDT Home The Regine Series Nationwide Tour” sa Cebu. Naging excited ang kanilang fans at humiling na gawan ng sequel ang Do Re Mi.

Tila seryosong pinag-aaralan ng Viva Entertainment na muling gawin ang pelikula dahil marami ang fans na humihing nito. Ang tanong lang ay kung sino ang gaganap na bida kung sakali. Si Sarah ay na-discover nang manalo siya sa “Star for A Night” singing contest noong 2002, noong 14 yrs old lang siya. Si Rachelle Ann ay nag-kampeon din sa “Search for a Star” noong 2004, at si Yeng ay tinanghal na unang kampeon sa Pinoy Dream Academy noong 2006. Nanatili ang kanilang pagkakaibigan kahit hindi na sila gaanong nagkikita, lalo na si Rachelle na nalinya bilang isang mahusay na international theater actress, at naka-base sa London.

JENNYLYN, WALANG ENTRY SA MMFF 2016
Nanghihinayang si Jennyln Mercado sa hindi niya pagtanggap sa pelikulang pagtatambalan sana nila ni Coco Martin, na isasali sana sa Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) sa taong ito. Sa nakalipas na dalawang taong sunod ay nahirang na best actress sa MMFF si Jennylyn, kaya umasa ang kanyang fans na muli siyang mapapanood sa taong ito. Napilitang tanggihan ni Jen ang pelikula dahil may nakalinya siyang gagawing teleserye sa GMA Network pero na-delay ito. Ang project na ito na adaptation ng Korean soap na My Love from the Star na pagtatambalan sana nila ni Alden Richards ay na-shelve dahil umalma ang mga AlDub fans na ang gusto ay si Maine Mendoza lang ang maging katambal nito.

Nagkaroon naman ng oras si Jen na makapag-focus sa paggawa ng bagong album, ang “Ultimate”, na produced ng Ivory Music. Ang carrier single nitong “Hagdan” ay nanguna agad sa iTunes hit list pagka-release nito. Inawit niya ito sa reality  show na hino-host niya, ang Superstar Duets.
Dahil hindi gaanong abala, mas nagkakaroon siya ngayon ng oras sa kanyang anak na si Jazz, at sa kanyang love life sa piling ni Dennis Trillo.

FRANCINE, IKINASAL; RUFA MAE, SUSUNOD 

Ikinasal na si Francine Prieto sa American molecular biologist na si Frank Shotkoski sa Isle of Capri sa Italy noong September 21.

Kahit may asawa na ay itutuloy pa rin daw ni Francine ang kanyang showbiz career, pero priority niya ngayon ang magkaanak na sila agad dahil 34 na daw siya. Balak nilang magpakasal ulit sa susunod na taon sa Denmark, kung saan naninirahan ang kanyang ama na isang Norwegian,  upang makadalo ang mga kamag-anak niya sa father side.

Samantala, abala na rin si Rufa Mae Quinto, 38, sa nalalapit niyang kasal sa fiancé niyang si Trevor Magallanes, 29, na gaganapin sa Nobyembre 25. Isang beach wedding ang kanilang napili, at kabilang sa wedding entourage sina LJ Moreno-Alapag bilang matron of honor, at bridesmaids na sina Shalani Soledad- Romulo, Grace Lee at Camille Villar.
Si Rufa Mae ay apat na buwan nang buntis.

Ilan sa mga celebrities na ikinasal din sa taong ito ay sina Vic Sotto at Pauleen Luna, Nyoy Volante at Mikkie Bradshaw, Georgina Wilson, Solenn Heussaff, Cristalle Belo at Isabel Daza sa kani-kanilang foreigner husbands.

Sa susunod na taon ay ikakasal din sina Gwen Zamora at Jeremy Marquez, Kaye Abad at Paul Jake Castillo, at Camille Prats at VJ Yambao.

Consulate Holidays
The Philippine Consulate General will be closed on the following dates:
• Oct. 10 —The day following the Tung Chung Festival
• Nov. 30 — Bonifacio Day
• Dec. 21 — Chinese Winter Solstice Festival
• Dec. 25 — Christmas Day
• Dec. 26— The first weekday after Christmas (Boxing Day)
• Dec. 27 — The second weekday after Christmas.
In case of emergency, please call:
9155 4023 Consular Assistance
5529 1880 POLO
5345 9324 OWWA

Learn Cantonese for Daily Living
Every Sunday, Sept. 18 – Nov.13, 9am-12nn
PCG Gallery. Exclusively for OFWs.
Register with your employment contract, HKID and 3.5x4.5cm photo at PCG Sentro Rizal, 2-5pm, any day except Friday or Saturday.
For inquiries, email cultural_hk@yahoo.com
Co-organized by: The Philippine Consulate General and International Social Service Hong Kong

Attention: Filipina Registered Nurses
Are you a Registered Nurse working as a domestic helper in Hong Kong who cares for elderly and/or patients with dementia? If so, please send a private message to the FB page, Philippine Nurses in Hong Kong, giving the following details:
1. Complete Name. 2. E-mail Address. 3. Patient Category: (Elderly and/or with Dementia). 4. Mobile Number

The SUN Calendar: What's on where

Gabriela-HK's 7th Anniversary Celebration
Oct. 2, 2-5pm. Edinburgh Place, Central. Featuring: One Billion Rising Dance Competition. Contact: Sheila Tebia

17th anniversary and 5th graduation ceremony
Oct. 2, 11am-4pm. Fulum Palace, North Point
Organized by: Diwa't Kabayan Benlife Society
Contact person Naty Manalo at 9825-6582/9146-4178

HKMU Concert
Oct. 5, 7:30pm. Sheung Wan Civic Centre. Tickets are on sale at $150-$320. Contact: Ella Lo 9771 3655
A benefit concert for HKMU projects

Open Call for Performers
(for the staging of the Filipino musical, "Ang Ugoy ng Duyan")
Oct. 8 (Saturday), 2pm. Sentro Rizal, PCG
Open to all Filipino youth in HK. To register, email teatrofilipino.sentrorizal@gmail.com or call Tess Polo at 9524 2378

Free Forum for Nurses
Oct. 9, Bayanihan Centre, Kennedy Town
Speakers from Australia and New Zealand, and agencies deploying to Germany and Qatar are coming to orient registered nurses about the working conditions in those markets. For full details, visit the FB page, Philippine Nurses in Hong Kong. Like it, and message your full name and mobile number.

2016 Free Breast Cancer Screening and Mammogram
Oct. 9: 10am-1pm Breast cancer screening; 2:30 pm – 3:30pm forum. Venue: PCG Conference Room
Organized by: Philippine Consulate General and HK Breast Cancer Foundation. To register, call Lorna at 2823 8512 or Joel at 2823 8513. Limited slots available

FMWU's 18th Anniversary Celebration
Oct. 9, whole day. Chater Road, Central
Featured Activity: Poetry Reading and Writing Contest with the theme: “Unite and Struggle for Livable Wages and Regulation of Working Hours”. Organizer: Filipino Migrant Workers Union. Contact: Feliza -9104-1411, Iyang- 5119-93643 and Nida-9107-9516

7th Philippine Festival
Opening Gala: Oct 14, 5 p.m. HK Visual Arts Centre, Mid-Levels. Featured Film: "Everything About Her". By invitation only
Oct. 16, 18 (Special Blocked Screenings)
Oct  23, 1pm & 3:30pm, PCG Gallery  (Open to public)
Featured Films: Crazy, Beautiful You & Starting Over Again
Oct. 30, 5:30 pm, HK Visual Arts Centre
Featured Film: "That Thing Called Tadhana"
Organized by: Philippine Consulate General. For tickets and other information, call PCG Cultural Sectioj, 2823 853

2016 Migrants’ Health Matters
Oct 23, 12 noon – 6 pm. Kik Yeung Football Pitch, Kik Yeung Road, Yuen Long, Hong Kong.
PathFinders is teaming up with Christian Action to host Community Health Day for Migrant Workers in Hong Kong Participating groups: Family Planning Association of Hong Kong, Hong Kong AIDS Foundation, Equal Opportunities Commission and other migrant organizations that will set up health and community services information booths to distribute health-related materials and answer questions. Free admission.

Healthy Habits Selfie Competition
(Part of the 2016 Migrants’ Heatlh Matters)
Aim is to promote health awareness among migrant workers
To join, simply upload your healthy habit selfie on the following Facebook pages: Christian Action Centre for Domestic Migrant Workers or PathFinders.  Invite your friends to LIKE your photo and win a prize!

UAAP Rambulan 2016
Nov 26, 11am,Repulse Bay Beach
All alumni of UP, Ateneo, La Salle and UST are invited to join day-long games all in the spirit of fun and camaraderie
For details, check out the FB invite page, Rambulan

Bello fails to get HK nod on OFW pay, safety

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III visit POLO office, where he is welcomed by Labor Attache Jalilo dela Torre (left).

By Vir B. Lumicao

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III ended his three-day visit to Hong Kong on Sept 25 after securing an affirmation of protection for Filipino domestic workers, but  no firm commitment on wage and job safety issues.

Bello met his Hong Kong counterpart, Matthew Cheung, on his arrival on Sept. 23 for talks that both sides described  as “very cordial and useful”.

But the meeting did not result in any deal being struck on key issues such as higher wages and excluding window cleaning from the list of domestic work.

“We had a very cordial meeting with Secretary Cheung and our talks centered on the welfare of our overseas workers here in Hong Kong. I extended the thanks of our department because our overseas workers are better treated here than in some other parts of the world,” Bello said at a news conference that followed the meeting.

The high point of Bello’s visit was his dialogue with more than 200 leaders of various Filipino community organizations at University of Hong Kong, where he addressed long-standing demands by migrants groups.

But ahead of this, Bello said he had not been officially informed of the OFWs’ demand for a $5,000 monthly pay, significantly above the current minimum pay of $4,200, but added the issue of salaries was being considered.

Separately, Cheung told a local reporter that he and Bello had discussed the helpers’ call for higher wages and a ban on window cleaning duties, but he did not give any firm commitment.

“Of course, we touched on the wage issue and I made the point clearly that in Hong Kong, we have got a regular exercise going on, in fact annually for the last few years, to review the minimum wage level for FDHs in Hong Kong,” Cheung said.

On window cleaning, Cheung said a ban was not easy to implement.

“I made the point that we also attach great importance to protecting the safety of all workers in Hong Kong... Cleaning windows is a dangerous thing to do if you are not careful enough, so what we would do is, as a start, we would step up promotion and education.”

At the news conference, Bello expressed reservations about allowing direct hiring, which OFWs want restored so they won't have to go through  employment agencies and pay high fees when they are the ones who find their own employers.

Bello said he was worried that "it might might bring about a situation where we have no more agencies and that all our workers would just be looking for their direct-hire employers here,and that may be quite risky in the sense that if anything happens to them, then there is no way we could address whatever problems they have."

In a separate interview during his visit to Bethune House Migrant Women's Refuge, Bello said he was not aware of the practice of some recruitment agencies of forcing migrant workers to apply for loans to pay for illicit fees.

He said no such complaints had reached him yet, but if there were any, there were surely legal measures to take against the offending agencies.

He said the Duterte government was particularly concerned about OFWs’ welfare because they are the real modern-day heroes who contribute nearly Php 1 trillion to the Philippine economy annually.
“Without you OFWs, the economy will collapse,” he said.

Bello's team included former POEA administrator and now and OWWA chief  Hans Cacdac, former OWWA chief Rebecca Calzado, and lawyer Allan Ty of the International Labor Affairs Bureau. They flew back to Manila immediately after the Filcom forum.

Cacdac moved to OWWA from POEA

Cacdac

Administrator Hans Cacdac of the Philippine Overseas Labor Administration (POEA) has been moved to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), replacing Rebecca Calzado as its head.

Cacdac made the announcement himself in a Facebook post today, Sept. 30. He said the unilateral transfer will take effect on Monday, Oct. 3. 

He did not give any explanation. 

All he said was that he wanted OWWA to become more accessible to overseas Filipino workers.

"Nais ko pong mas lalong maging malapit ang OWWA sa mahal nating mga OFWs," he said.

He asked for comments to be posted on his wall for any suggestions on how OWWA can better serve the OFWs.

No announcement on the move was made on the POEA or OWWA website, or that of the Department of Labor and Employment. 

It is also unclear who will take over as POEA chief.

Although POEA and OWWA are co-equal bodies under DOLE, the administrator of POEA, which acts as overseer of all recruitment agencies in the Philippines, carries more weight and clout. 

Cacdac was with the agency for years, acting as deputy  to two administrators who became labor secretaries - Pat Sto. Tomas and Rosalinda Baldoz -before he became administrator himself in 2011.

He was known to crack the whip on errant recruiters, leading to a call for his ouster by agency groups in July last year. Although the call got widespread notice, it failed to get off the ground.

Both Cacdac and Calzado accompanied Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III on his trip to Hong Kong on Sept. 23-25, but no hint was made on their impending fate. - The SUN

Pinay DH nabbed in air parcel drug bust

Tsuen Wan Courts building.

By Vir B. Lumicao

A Filipina domestic worker was charged in Tsuen Wan Court  today, Sept 30, with drug trafficking after accepting an air parcel containing 650 grams of suspected cocaine from her boyfriend in Ethiopia.

Vice Consul Alex Vallespin, head of the Consulate’s assistance to nationals section, said Welva E. Gannaban was arrested on Monday as she received the package delivered at her employer’s home in North Point by customs and police officers posing as postmen.

The foiled attempt to smuggle dangerous drugs into Hong Kong using the postal system was the fourth of its kind this year and the second involving a Filipina, triggering concern among Consulate officials. 

Vallespin said when his office received the report on Gannaban’s arrest from the authorities, he sent an ATN officer to interview the woman. 

He expressed concern about Filipinas in Hong Kong being used by drug traffickers who befriend them online and then send them packages containing the illegal substance. 

In May, a Filipina domestic helper, Eleanor Aromin, was arrested after similarly unwittingly receiving a “present” sent by her African boyfriend via air mail.  

She is due to appear in Tsuen Wan Court on Oct 20 for the resumption of her case’s hearing. 

$100 wage increase for FDHs 'disappointing'

Unifil members' fight for HK$5,000 monthly continues.

Effective Oct. 1, the monthly minimum allowable wage for foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong will increase to $4,310, a rise of $100.  The food allowance will go up by $42, to $1,037.

The increases were announced late today, Friday, by the Hong Kong government.

The United Filipinos-Migrante Hong Kong called the pay hike disappointing, as workers had been calling for the monthly wage to be raised to $5,000.

“We are disappointed. We’re not happy at the piecemeal increase because our demand was $5,000, as that’s what we see as livable wage in Hong Kong, where the cost of living such as food and fares is too high,” Dolores Balladares, chairwoman of Unifil-Migrante HK, said when asked for comment.

“The $100 increase will have no effect on our salaries. It will be barely enough, because we spend a large part of our pay in Hong Kong, so kulang na kulang pa rin,” Balladares said, adding that workers would continue to press for a pay hike despite the decision because the government reviews wages annually.

Under the standard employment contract for hiring FDHs, employers are required to either provide helpers with free food or pay a food allowance. Most opt to give free food.

The new wage and food allowance levels apply to all contracts signed on or after Oct 1, the government said.

“The government reviews the MAW for FDHs regularly. In accordance with the established practice, we have carefully considered Hong Kong's general economic and labor market situations over the last year, as reflected through a basket of economic indicators, including the relevant income movement and price change in this year's review,” a government spokesman said.

“Moreover, the government has taken into account Hong Kong's near-term economic outlook, as well as the need to strike a balance between affordability for employers on one hand and the livelihood of FDHs on the other in reaching the decision on the above-mentioned adjustment.”

The spokesman added, “The government has also reviewed the food allowance in lieu of free food, and decided to increase the allowance level.”

Contracts signed before Oct 1 or earlier at the existing salary of $4,210 a month and food allowance of not less than $995 a month will still be processed by the Immigration Department provided the applications reach the department on or before Oct 28. 

This arrangement will give employers sufficient time to send the signed contracts to Immigration for completion of the necessary application procedures.

Cooking up snacks in a flash

By Jo Campos

Having a play group with the kids, a kiddie birthday party or just thinking of a quick and easy snack?  These easy to prepare snacks are most ideal for that ‘grab what you have in the pantry and fridge kind of recipes’. Also great for “pika-pika” or finger food for parties and picnic.

Wicked Oreos can be served as a dessert, and made fancier with the addition of a scoop of vanilla ice cream slathered with caramel or chocolate syrup. But you can also just have it plain, dusted in icing sugar for that light, sweet and chocolatey Oreo in the middle.

Pizzas, on the other hand, are always a hit, whether as a snack or as a meal in itself. But making them could be a hassle, so here is a recipe that will allow you to have those lovely, gooey, pizza rolls in a flash. Use your gourmet creativity by adding some herbs, make it hot by adding some spicy fillings of your choice, or a bit of a dip on the side.

But if you haven’t got any of these extra ingredients, don’t fret. These little bombs are fantastic any way you make them.

Wicked Oreos
Ingredients:
1 pack Oreo cookies (refrigerate for at least 4 hours)
1 package dry pancake mix
Cooking oil for frying (vegetable oil or canola oil)
Confectioner’s sugar, chocolate syrup, caramel syrup, vanilla ice cream (optional for toppings)

Procedure:
1) In a deep sauce pan or a cooking pot, preheat the oil.
2) While the oil is heating up (there should be some small bubbles on the side),  prepare the pancake batter (as per instructions on the box).
3) Dip the Oreo in the pancake batter, making sure you coat it completely.
4) Use thongs to pick it up and drop in the oil. One or two at a time. It should puff up a little and float to the top.
5) Turn Oreo over to the other side until both sides are light golden. This should not take too long, around 1-2 minutes. If it takes a while, your oil is probably not hot enough.
6) Let the Wicked Oreos rest for a few seconds on a paper towel to absorb the excess oil.

Pizza Rolls

Ingredients:
For the pizza rolls:
12 pcs sliced bread, without crust (brown or white bread, it’s your choice!) (also best with pandesal, sliced and flattened)
thinly sliced ham, crunchy streaky bacon rashers
grated mozzarella cheese or quick melt cheese
fresh thyme or finely chopped sweet basil (optional)
Japanese bread crumbs
egg white
oil for frying
butter

For the pizza sauce:
1 can chopped tomatoes
chopped fresh sweet basil leaves
chopped onion
minced garlic
salt and pepper to taste

Procedure: 
1) Heat a deep pan with enough oil for deep frying.
2) Lay slices of bread and spread with butter, top with ham, bacon, cheese and sprinkle fresh herbs.
3) Roll each bread slices tightly and dip into the egg white, then roll on the breadcrumbs, making sure that the pizza rolls are well coated and the ends are sealed to avoid cheese from oozing when frying.
4) Carefully drop the rolls in hot oil, a few at a time for about 2- 3 minutes or until golden brown.
5) Drain cooked pizza rolls on paper towels to absorb excess oil.
6) Saute onion and garlic in olive oil till translucent and fragrant, then add chopped tomatoes and basil. Add a pinch or two of sugar to neutralize acidity of tomatoes.
7) Simmer for about 3 to 4 minutes till slightly thick, then add salt and pepper to taste.
8) Serve pizza rolls warm with the sauce on the side.

HK gov’t assures Emry’s will be prosecuted

Secretary Bello blends serious talk and jokesas he apprises POLO staff on the goals of the DOLE under the Duterte admnistration. He was formally welcomed to Hong Kong by Consul General Baernardita Catalla.

By Vir B. Lumicao

Hong Kong labour officials have assured Philippine Labour Secretary Silvestre Bello III that Emry’s Service Staff Employment Agency will be prosecuted over claims of scamming hundreds of Filipino applicants for purported jobs in Britain and Canada.

Labour Secretary Matthew Cheung gave the assurance during his dinner-meeting on Sept 23 with Secretary Bello and his entourage, according to Labor Attache Jalilo de la Torre.

However, a criminal prosecution of Ester Ylagan, former co-owner of Emry’s and sole proprietor of Mike’s Secretarial Services, apparently is still being considered.

“Ang sabi ni Secretary Cheung, the police are still investigating,” he said.

Secretary Cheung reportedly met the Philippine delegation over dinner and discussed problems concerning Filipino migrant workers in Hong Kong, on top of which was the life-endangering task of cleaning windows.

The Hong Kong delegation included Cheung, Police Commissioner Stephen Lo, and Permanent Secretary for Labour Annie Tam. The Philippine side was made up of Philippine Overseas Employment Administration chief Hans Cacdac, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration head Rebecca Calzado, Labatt dela Torre and Vice Consul Fatima Quintin.

“The Secretary of Labour assured us that there will be prosecution and that they will issue summons against the erring agency,” Labatt De la Torre replied without naming the agency.

However, Secretary Bello himself deflected The SUN’s query about whether the Emry’s/Mike’s alleged jobs scam was discussed with the Hong Kong officials.

In the meantime, Emry’s/Mike’s have been suspended by both sides, Administrator Cacdac butted in.

Labatt dela Torre also said that Emry’s counterpart agency in the Philippines is also under investigation.

“Sa claims naman, we will make a representation with the (Small) Claims Tribunal na i-consolidate nila yung mga kaso para hindi sabog ang ating monitoring,” he added.

Bello said his team and the Hong Kong side discussed ways to help the 187,000 Filipino domestic workers in Hong Kong.

When asked by media about whether he discussed with Cheung the workers’ clamor to ban window cleaning, Bello said the other side promised to study Polo’s recommendation to strike it out of the list of domestic workers’ duties.

“Pag-aaralan nila, although very positive sila but wala siyang (Cheung) commitment,” Bello said.

“Tinitingan pa nina Labor Attaché Dela Torre ang tungkol sa paglilinis ng mga workers ng bintana. Kasi sinasabi naman nila hindi rin maiiwasan kasi kung minsan na ang mismong may-ari kailangan din niyang maglinis,” Bello said.

“Wala tayong magagawa. Lalo na kasi ganyan talaga ang mga bahay dito. Sa Pilipinas one-story lang ang mga bahay natin, dito hindi eh,” the official added.

At this stage, the window-cleaning ban is still a recommendation and that Polo should make a representation with Hong Kong authorities to exclude it from the domestic chores stipulated in the contract, Bello said.

Asked whether he had taken up with his Hong Kong counterpart illegal fees being exacted by agencies on workers such as forced loans from lending companies, Bello said he had not yet heard of such issue.

“Hindi pa nakakarating sa akin ang reklamong iyan pero kung meron mang ganyan, meron din namang legal remedies at pwede nating habulin iyan,” he said.

Bello said the Hong Kong side is “grateful na meron tayong mga overseas workers dito dahil malaking tulong din sa kanila at they prefer Filipino migrant workers dahil masisipag at magagalang at sinisiguro nila na gagawin nilang lahat para maproteksiyonan sila.”

When asked by one reporter how Hong Kong officials regard the new government of President Rodrigo Duterte, Bello said they were cordial.

He said in fact, he told them that Duterte might visit China and that he might be able to convince him to stop over in Hong Kong.

“Baka makumbinsi natin na dumaan dito para masalubong niya naman ang mga mahal niya sa buhay. Mahal na mahal niya ang mga migrant workers, eh. Aba, mahal kayo niyon ha. Palagi niyang iniuutos sa akin na huwag kong pabababayaan ang inyong kapakanan,” Bello said.

He visited Bethune House in Sheung Wan for about an hour on Sept 24 to see for himself one of the two shelters managed by executive director Edwina Antonio. Earlier, he paid a visit to the OWWA-run Filipino Women’s Refuge Center in Kennedy Town.

Bello spoke with each of the 12 Filipina clients of Bethune about their particular problems, promising to assist them in getting jobs if they decide to go home. He endorsed to either Calzado, Cacdac or De la Torre the clients’ concerns.

Perhuwisyo, kapalit ng murang air ticket

Sobrang pagkayamot ang naramdaman ni Jean nang pabalik na siya sa Hong Kong matapos ang kanyang bakasyon sa Pilipinas. Delayed ang kanyang domestic flight ng dalawang oras, na ang dating na 11:40 ng umaga mula Davao hanggang Maynila ay naging 1:40 na ng hapon. Pagkatapos ng paghangos niya para hindi maiwan sa kanyang 3:40pm na flight papuntang Hong Kong ay nalaman niyang delayed din ito.

Inabot siya ng 8:00pm sa NAIA bago nakalipad ang eroplano. Pagdating sa  Hong Kong Airport ay lalo siyang nagngitngit sa galit dahil nawawala ang kanyang mga bagahe, lalo at naroon pa naman ang kanyang mga gamot. Nag-email siya kaagad sa airline na kanyang sinakyan at sinabing pananagutin sila kung may masamang mangyari sa kanya dahil naroon sa maleta niyang nawawala ang mga gamot niya.

Tiyempo namang paalis din papuntang Dubai ang kanyang kapatid, at napag-alaman niya mula dito na naroon pa sa transfer desk ang kanyang maleta.

Agad na inireklamo ito ng kanyang kapatid, kaya dali-daling nahila ang kanyang mga bagahe at naisakay sa sumunod na flight. Ngunit inabot pa ng halos dalawang araw bago ito nakarating sa kanya.

Sabado ng gabi nang siya ay makarating sa Hong Kong, Lunes na nang gabi nang madala sa kanya ang kanyang bagahe. Wala namang nasira sa kanyang mga dala at walang nawala, ngunit ang isang kasabay niyang umalis ay inabot pa ng Huwebes bago nakuha ang naiwanan ding bagahe. Napanis na lahat ang mga dala nitong pagkain na pampasalubong sana sa mga kaibigan, nawala pa ang ibang mahahalaga niyang gamit.

Sa naranasang imbyerna ni Jean ay ipinangako niya sa sarili na hindi na ulit sasakay sa airline na iyon na lagi na lang maraming napapabalitang kapalpakan ngayon. Ang kaibigan daw niya kasi ang nag-book para sa kanya at dahil mura ay sumang-ayon siya. Hindi naman niya alam na napakalaking perhuwisyo ang aabutin niya dahil lang sa paghahabol sa murang tiket.

Naalala din niya na mabuti at naisipan niyang magpamasahe sumandali sa airport bago lumipad kaya umayos ang kanyang pakiramdam, kundi ay baka inatake siya ng karamdaman samantalang wala siyang dalang gamot para dito. Si Jean ay dalaga at tubong Davao. – Marites Palma

It pays to be honest -- sobra-sobra

May 24 taon na ang nakakaraan nang dumating sa buhay ng isang mag-asawang Pilipino na kasambahay ang pinakamahigpit na pagsubok sa kanilang katapatan. Nakatanggap sila ng tawag sa kanilang panganay na anak noon na nasa Pilipinas, na nagsabing nakakita ito isang brown envelope na may lamang pera sa nakatagong bulsa ng isang winter coat na bigay ng kanilang among Intsik, na siya namang ipinadala nila sa pamamagitan ng door-to-door. Ang kabuuang halaga ng mga dolyar na nasa envelope ay umaabot ngPhp1 milyon.

Nagtaka ang mag-asawa dahil wala silang alam tungkol sa nasabing pera, at pinagbilinan ang anak na itago muna ito dahil malapit na silang magbakasyong mag-asawa. Ang kanilang mga amo ay nauna nang nagbakasyon noon kaya hindi nila matanong tungkol sa pera.

Pagdating ng mag-asawa sa Pilipinas ay napaisip sila kung ano ang gagawin sa pera na alam nilang hindi na natatandaan ng mga amo. Agad naman silang nagkasundo na ibalik ang pera. Pagkatapos ng kanilang bakasyon ay dinala nila pabalik sa Hong Kong ang pera, na sa dami ay pinagsisiksik nila sa kanilang mga suot na rubber shoes at sa kanilang mga damit.

Pagdating ng mga amo ay hindi makapaniwala ang mga ito na ibabalik ng kanilang mga kasambahay ang pera na wala na sa isip nila. Akala daw nila ay naubos na nilang lahat ang dolyar na dala-dala nila nung magbiyahe sila noon. Puring-puri ng mga amo ang dalawa, at sinabing kakaiba ang mag-asawa sa katapatan, at hindi daw sila nagkamali na pirmahan sila bilang kasambaahy.

Dahil sa nangyari ay naging lubos na malugod ang mga amo sa mag-asawa, at bumuhos ang biyaya sa kanilang pamilya. Pinapupunta ang mga anak nila dito sa Hong Kong tuwing nakakatapos ng pag-aaral at pinatitira ng libre sa kanilang tahanan, at may pakimkim pang pera para sa pamamasyal, pagkain at shopping. Tuwing magbabakasyon naman ang mag-asawa sa Pilipinas ay binibigyan sila ng mga amo ng Php50,000 na panggastos, bukod pa sa libreng tiket pauwi taon-taon.

Tinulungan din silang makapagpatayo ng napakagandang bahay sa kanilang bayan, at dinagdagan ang perang pambili nila ng sasakyan para may magamit sila tuwing sila ay nagbabakasyon.

Nang mamatay ang nanay ni Ate ay nagbigay ng tumataginting na H$50,000 ang amo para sa pagpapalibing. Ibinigay na din ang kalahati ng kanilang long service pay na malaki-laki din dahil si Ate ay 28 taon nang naninilbihan sa kanila noon, samantalang si Kuya ay 24 taon naman.

Naging masuwerte din sila sa kanilang tatlong anak dahil nakapagtapos ang mga ito at may magandang trabaho at kanya-kanyang pamilya na. Maari na sanang mag “for good” ang mag-asawa dahil ang kanilang nag-iisang alaga ay may sarili na ring pamilya ngunit hindi nila maiwan-iwan ang super bait nilang mga amo.

Abot-abot ang kanilang pasasalamat sa Diyos sa mga biyayang natanggap nila kaya inilaan nila ang oras ng kanilang pahinga sa simbahan kung saan may may katungkulan na sila, at masayang tumutulong sa  kanilang mga kapatid sa pananampalataya. May pinamumunuan din silang asosasyon na ang pangunahing layunin ay ang tumulong sa mga nangangailangan sa buhay na pinagkaitan ng biyaya sa Pilipinas.

Kaya ang payo nina Ate at Kuya ay, laging maging matapat kahit gaano kahirap ang buhay, at tiyak na bubuhos ang biyaya sa iyong pamilya. Sa maliit at malaking halaga ay laging ipakita ang katapatan. Sa ngayon ay nananatili sa Hong Kong ang dalawa dahil masaya pa raw sila sa kanilang paninilbihan at kaya pa nilang magtrabaho. Sina Ate at Kuya ay tubong Pangasinan at naninilbihan pa rin sa kanilang mabait na mga among taga Tuen Mun – Marites Palma

Duterte set to visit Beijing; HK eyed

Duterte during his Araw ng mga Bayani speech.

The SUN Exclusive

President Rodrigo Duterte may visit Beijing before the end of this year if the ongoing informal talks between the Philippines and China graduate into formal negotiations, sources in Manila have indicated.

And if Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III succeeds in convincing him, Duterte might even pass by Hong Kong.

“Baka makumbinsi natin na dumaan dito para masalubong niya naman ang mga mahal niya sa buhay. Mahal na mahal niya ang mga migrant workers, eh. Aba, mahal kayo niyon ha. Palagi niyang iniuutos sa akin na huwag kong pabababayaan ang inyong kapakanan,” Bello said during an interview while on a visit to Hong Kong.

Among the subjects expected to be included in Duterte's agenda in Beijing are trade in which China enjoys a US$3billion surplus, atttracting Chinese investments to the Philippines, and joint exploration of the West Philippine Sea, the source said.

This development depends on the progress of talks initiated by former President Fidel V. Ramos when he flies for the second time to Hong Kong within October, as Duterte’s personal representative, the source said.

While in Hong Kong, Ramos is expected to meet with his highly-placed contacts in China, to whom he had reached out as special envoy to restore ties in the wake of an international court ruling that favored the Philippines in its dispute with China over the West Philippine Sea.

Last August 29, Duterte explained in a speech his policy of reaching out to China: "There is always war and peace. If I am not ready for war, then peace is the only thing. I will keep silent now."

He added: "I will never bring (up) the matter because it may lead to the suspenson of talks with China."

This meant that he would not invoke, for now, the United Nations (UN) Arbitral Tribunal decision last July, which declared that the Philippines has exclusive sovereign rights over the West Philippine Sea and that China’s “nine-dash line” is invalid.

The tribunal's other findings included:

• China violated the Philippines’ sovereign rights in its exclusive economic zone by (a) interfering with Philippine fishing and petroleum exploration, (b) constructing artificial islands and (c) failing to prevent Chinese fishermen from fishing in the zone
• There was no legal basis for China to claim historic rights to resources within the sea areas falling within the ‘nine-dash line'
• Chinese law enforcement vessels had unlawfully created a serious risk of collision when they physically obstructed Philippine vessels.

China, which refused to participate in the tribunal's deliberations, has rejected the tribunal's decision.

Duterte brought in Ramos because of the friendships the latter had built since the first Boao Forum for Asia in Boao, Yunan province, in 1998 when he was still president. Ramos said he has since travelled to that country regularly to renew the friendships in the yearly Boao forum, and play in golf tournaments organized in his honor.

In his first visit to Hong Kong last August 10-11, for example, Ramos met with his Boao friends Madam Fu Ying, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National People’s Congress, and former Ambassador to Manila (1998-2000) Wu Shicun who is now president of China’s National Institute for South China Sea Studies.

A press statement issued by Ramos at the end of that trip said they “discussed, in their private capacity, the way forward in the spirit of universal brotherhood and sisterhood for peace and cooperation between the two countries.”

The informal discussions took up "possible human and ecological security options and suggestions for the benefit of their peoples, such as: a.) encouraging marine preservation; b.) avoiding tension and promoting fishing cooperation; c.) anti-drug and anti-smuggling cooperation; d.) anti-crime and anti-corruption cooperation; e.) improving tourism opportunities; f.) encouraging trade and investment facilitation; g.) encouraging track II (think tank) exchanges on relevant issues of mutual concern and interest."

The second round of meetings involving Ramos apparently indicates significant progress towards formal talks between the two governments, with targets being set for the Duterte visit in Beijing.

Pastor’s child wins damage for personal injury

The victim, Abigail Vallo.

By Vir B. Lumicao

On a day in August 2014, nine-year-old Abigail Vallo was playing ball with friends at a community activity centre in Tung Chung when she crashed into a ceramic flower vase and badly injured herself.
A fragment of the broken vase sliced the side of the child’s left leg from the knee upward and it took surgeons 11 stitches to close the wound. The impact of the crash was so strong that the flesh next to her kneecap was torn off.

For the injury which sidelined her from school for two months, the girl was awarded an undisclosed sum in the six figures in an out-of-court settlement reached at the District Court in late August.

“It was a victory won after two years of battle in court,” Bishop Gerry Vallo of the Jesus The Living God ministry and father of Abigail, told The SUN in an interview on Sept 5.

The fund was ordered by the District Court to be held in escrow and accessible only to the young Vallo when she reaches the age of 18.

The girl is now a Primary 6 student of The Salvation Army Lam Butt Chung Memorial School in Yat Tung, a public housing estate that is part of the Tung Chung new town in North Lantau.

The settlement was reached by solicitors of the two contending parties – the minor Abigail suing through her parent Gerry Vallo, and the Neighbourhood Advice-Action Council in Yat Tung.

The Vallo family was represented by solicitor Ivy Tong, who has handled a number of personal injury and work-related claims by Filipinos in Hong Kong.

“Lawyers of the two parties met in closed chambers then submitted their proposal to the court,” said Vallo, who added that the resolution of the case ended two years of anxiety for his family and trauma for their daughter.

Vallo said his side argued that allowing children to play on the school’s first-floor landing was illegal because the area was not intended as a playground where they could play ballgames.
Secondly, there was no sign warning people to stay away from the area where the accident happened.
“My daughter was only nine when she had to endure four sessions of general anesthesia (for the surgery),” Vallo said.

For nearly two months the girl was out of school as she recuperated from her injury and plastic surgery. “She suffered trauma, she was afraid of the operating room during the  time,” the church minister said.

Vallo said his daughter is now recovering although she had to undergo skin graft to repair damaged tissues. He said the accident was a blow to Abigail, the fourth of five siblings and a talented child who played five ball games.

For all his troubles attending to the medical and legal needs of his child, Vallo said he received a $4,000 pay-out.

Eni Lestari: First Migrants' Representative at the U.N. - SunWeb HK Video Feature

WATCH NOW: 

For the first time in history, migrant workers around the world were given a voice at the United Nations by Hong Kong-based Indonesian domestic helper Eni Lestari.

Hong Kong Eye, ang atraksiyon ng Central

Ni Cris B. Cayat

Kung mayroong "London Eye" sa London, mayroon ding “Hong Kong Eye” na nagbukas noong Disyembre 6, bilang pang-akit sa maraming turista at lokal na mamamayang magagawi sa Central. Ang ferris wheel, o tsubibo na opisyal na tinatawag na Hong Kong Observation Wheel, ay may taas na 60 metro at may 42 gondola. Isa sa mga ito ay pang-VIP at may sahig na salamin. Sa halagang $100 para sa mga may gulang na at $70 sa mga bata, makikita ng sasakay ang nakapalibot na kagandahan ng Hong Kong.

Ang ferris wheel ay iikot nang mabagal tatlong ulit sa loob ng 20 minuto. Sapat nang panahon ito upang makita ng mga nakasakay nang walang harang ang apat na sulok ng Hong Kong mula sa itaas.
Ang pinakamainam na oras ng pagsakay sa tsubibo ay takipsilim, kung kailan papalubog na ang araw at nagsisipagsindi ang libu-libong ilaw ng mga gusaling nakapaligid at tila mga bituing nagkikislapan at nagpapaligsahan ng ningning.

Ayon sa pag-aaral ng mga grupong nagtayo ng ferris wheel, inaasahang may 2,740 katao ang sasakay sa dito at makakaragdag nang malaki sa turismo ng Hong Kong. Ang lokasyon ng Hong Kong Eye ay mainam dahil nasa Central ito at madaraanan ng mga turistang papunta sa Tsim Sha Tsui o di kaya’y patungong Hong Kong Island.

Ang tsubibo, na napapalamutian ng LED (light emitting diodes) sa buong balangkas nito, ay unang napabalita na magkakaroon ng “soft launch” noong Setyembre upang maiparanas sa madla ang naturang atraksiyon, ayon sa Harbourfront Commission, Hong Kong Tourism Board, mga kinatawan ng mga distrito at ng pamahalaan ng Hong Kong.

Ang Swiss AEX, ang kumpanyang gumawa ng naturang tsubibo, ay may tatlong taong kontrata upang gawin ang bagong atraksyon. Sinimulan nito ang paggawa noong June 2013, at nag-soft launch pagkaraan ng mahigit isang taon.

Ang tsubibo ay nakatayo sa isang bakuran na may sukat na 9,620 metro kuwadrado sa harap ng Pier 9 at 10 sa bagong Star Ferry Pier o Edinburgh Place Ferry Pier.

Ang daungan ay nakasanayan nang tawaging “Star Ferry” at ito ay ikatlong lokasyon na ng nasabing pantalan; ang nauna ay sa kinatatayuan ngayon ng Mandarin Oriental at ang pangalawa ay sa tabi ng General Post Office. Inilipat ang daungan noong 2007 sa bagong Edinburgh Place.

Ang clock tower na inilipat sa bagong pantalan ay naging sentro ng pagtatalo ng mga conservationist at ng gobyeno ng Hong Kong dahil gusto noon ng pamahalaan na gibain ang tore. Nauwi ang pagtatalo sa martsa na nagbunga ng maganda dahil inilipat ang orihinal na tore sa bagong kinatitirikan nito sa Edinburgh Place Ferry Pier, sa halip na gibain na lamang.

Ang Hong Kong Eye ay siyang pantapat ng Hong Kong sa London Eye at sa Singapore Flyer na higit na matataas ngunit naiiba ang hubog ng mga gondola. Ang London Eye ay may taas na 135 metro at ang Singapore Flyer ay may 165 metro. Ang hubog ng mga gondola ng dalawa ay parang kapsula at makakapaglakad sa loob ang mga sakay nito.

Sa taas na 60 metro, wala sa kalahati ng higanteng tsubibo sa London at Singapore ang Hong Kong Eye, at ang mga mga pasahero nito ay mananatiling nakaupo.

Ang bawa’t gondola ay  makakapagsakay ng walo hanggang 10 katao, at may koneksyon sa wifi. Ang Hong Kong Eye ay nagbubukas mula ika-11 ng umaga hanggang ika-11 ng gabi.

Ayon kay Luz Peñaranda, isang Pilipinong nakasubok na sa Hong Kong Eye, banayad lang ang pag-ikot nito at hindi nakakahilo, kaya nagalak siya at kanyang mga kaibigan nang sakyan nila ito. Sumakay sila banding ikaanim ng hapon kaya napagmasdan nila ng mabuti ang kagandahan ng Hong Kong, kabilang ang maraming ilaw sa paligid na sari-sari ang kulay at kumukutitap dahil magpapasko.

Sa magkabilang tabi ng ferris wheel may kanya-kanyang pakulo ang malalaking kumpanya gaya ng  Carnaval na nag-aalok ng maraming larong masasalihan sa entrance fee na $90 na may kasama nang mga token na nagkakahalaga ng $70.

Ang Carnaval na ititangkilik ng AIA ay bukas mula Dis. 23 hanggang Peb. 22. Sa kabilang gilid ng ferris wheel ay may pakulo rin ang Hongkong Telecom kung saan ang lahat ng kliyente nito ay makakapasok nang walang bayad.

Ang kinatatayuan ng Hong Kong Eye ay bahagi ng malawak na reclamation site sa harap ng City Hall at Central Post Office. Mula nang binuksan ang liwasan, maraming Pinoy nagpupunta roon, tumatambay, namamasyal, o di kaya’y nagdaraos doon ng malalaking programa.

Halimbawa, noong Dis. 7 ay ginanap sa likuran ng General Post Office ang isang malaking konsiyerto ng mga sikat na mang-aawit na Pilipino, kabilang na si Arnel Pineda. Sa araw ding iyon, itinanghal ng Benguet Federation ang Adivay, isang malaking pagdiriwang na dinaluhan ng mga kilalang tao mula sa probinsiyang iyon.

Noong Nob. 2, ipinagdiwang ng CorAll HK ang ika-16 na taon nito sa likuran ng Post Office. Bukod sa di gaanong dinaraanan ng tao, mas malawak ang lugar para sa community dance na pat-tong, na nangangailangan ng sapat na espasyo para maraming taong makakasali.

Doon din malapit sa City Hall pumupuwesto ang Friends of Bethune at iba pang mga grupo na dahil malawak at hindi pa matao ang lugar. Habang kanya-kanyang praktis sila dito at doon, nasaksihan nila ang pagbangon ng balangkas ng higanteng tsubibo hanggang sa ito ay nakatawag-pansin sa lahat.

Kapag naglilitratuhan, magandang lumugar sa harap ng City Hall at nakatalikod sa Hong Kong Eye dahil kahit na ilang metro ang layo ng tsubibo ay makukuhanan pa rin ito katabi ang isa pang higante, ang International Financial Center 2.

At kung ang nais ay maglakad-lakad lamang, maaaring baybayin ang tabing-dagat mula sa Bauhinia Square sa Wanchai hanggang sa Sun Yat Sen Park sa Western District. Samantalahin na rin ang pagkakataon na tumigil sa may Central at sumakay sa matayog na Hong Kong Eye para makumpleto ang inyong pamamasyal..

Court frees man who harbored overstaying Pinay

By Vir B. Lumicao

A Filipino landscapist escaped jail on Aug. 30 despite pleading guilty to harboring an overstaying Filipina.

Ramil de los Reyes was meted a six-week jail term suspended for a year by High Court Judge Esther Toh after reviewing his case.

The suspended sentence meant he would not go to jail unless he commits another offense within the prescribed period of one year.

Earlier on Feb. 15, de los Reyes was sentenced by Shatin magistrate Andrew Ma to two months in jail for the offense of aiding and abetting a breach of immigration rules, and to a fine of  $1,000 for failing to register the birth of the Filipina’s baby.

The defendant got a two-week discount to the sentence two days later. Referring to the original sentence, Judge Toh said, “The magistrate decided correctly that this (aiding and abetting a breach of immigration rules) is a serious offense that calls for immediate custodial sentence”.

But she accepted defense counsel Andrew Leung’s argument that the magistrate did not give enough weight to the applicant’s claim that jailing him would put in jeopardy both the mother and the baby’s health.

She allowed De los Reyes to walk out free after announcing the suspended sentence.

The prosecution earlier objected to the defense counsel’s application for a non-custodial sentence, arguing for the deterrent purpose of a jail term for anyone abetting and aiding an immigration offense.
“His girlfriend came to Hong Kong on a limited status because she was a domestic helper. She had a relationship with the appellant and was in breach of her condition of stay. Fortunately, because she has a baby she’s out of jail,” the prosecution lawyer said.

Leung said his client would have surrendered the unnamed woman much earlier, but, as a father concerned about his child, he waited for the baby to grow until it would be more stable and stronger by the time the mother went to jail.

Leung said in fact it was Delos Reyes who persuaded and went with the Filipina to surrender to Immigration authorities when the baby was 18 months old.

Data Privacy Law

By Cynthia Tellez

At the Mission for Migrant Workers, one topic that we regularly discuss among staff is the Privacy Law. This is conducted to remind ourselves that inasmuch as we are getting information in relation to problems of migrant workers when they seek assistance from our office, we should be versed on the said ordinance to protect both the client and our office.

But the Data Privacy Law does not only apply to offices that get information from their clients to render services. This also pertains to individuals, including migrant workers.

So in this Know Your Rights article, we wish to at least assist migrants in knowing the rules relating to privacy especially now that almost everybody is using social media, and they are constantly asked to provide information to loan agencies including addresses of their employer or guarantor, etc.
This article hopes to provide a certain guide so we do not find ourselves in a difficult situation.
What are being protected in the Data Privacy Law?

All information that can identify a person or any form that gives access to information is what the said law is concerned about. These are personal data protected by the Ordinance including names, phone numbers, addresses, identity card numbers, photos, medical records and employment records.

To be concrete, let us deal with some examples:

1) Migrants who give out the address and phone number of their employers to lending companies without their employer’s permission;

2) Using social media like Twitter, Facebook, and similar platforms, and posting pictures, address or HKID of another person without permission

3) Listing a person’s name as guarantor in a loan transaction without the express consent of that person, even if he or she is a friend or a relative.

These are but some examples of acts that violate the Data Privacy Law. These acts violate the rights of the concerned persons who can file a complaint to the Privacy Commissioner as a result. They may even demand damages against the person that violated their privacy.

The Ordinance gives what is called as the six data protection principles (DPP) to users of data or information taken. The Ordinance said that these constitute the core of the whole law.

DPP1 - Data Collection Principle:
1) Personal data must be collected in a lawful and fair way, for a purpose directly related to a function activity of the data user.
2) Data subjects must be notified of the purpose and the classes of persons to whom the data may be transferred.
3) Data collected should be necessary but not excessive.

DPP2- Accuracy & Retention Principle:
Practicable steps shall be taken to ensure personal data is accurate and not kept longer than is necessary to fulfill the purpose for which it is used.

DPP3 - Data Use Principle
Personal data must be used for the purpose for which the data is collected or for a directly related purpose, unless voluntary and explicit consent with a new purpose is obtained from the data subject.

DPP4 - Data Security Principle
A data user needs to take practical steps to safeguard personal data from unauthorized or accidental access, processing, erasure, loss or use.

DPP5 - Openness Principle
A data user must take practicable steps to make personal data policies and practices known to the public regarding the types of personal data it holds and how the data is used.

DPP6 - Data Access & Correction Principle
A data subject must be given access to his/her personal data and allowed to make corrections if it is inaccurate.

In other words, based on some of the examples that we mentioned above, the six core principles say that:
1) We should get the approval of our employer before giving the address, phone number, names of our employer or any other information, to any lending companies.
2) A consent should be given by the person who will act as guarantor in loan application. Without the consent, the person affected may file complaints to the Commissioner of the Privacy Ordinance.
3) The information/data that we took legally, meaning with permit from the people concerned, must be used only for a specific purpose and NOT to other purposes without the permission again of the concerned person(s).

4) The data user must protect all the information taken and not reveal it irresponsibly to the public or other people who are outside of the purpose for which the data was collected. So, avoid free-wheeling distribution of data that may have a bad effect on somebody.

5) Of course it is okay if it is a birthday party or outing at the beach or any group gathering and the pictures taken were uploaded in social media. But still, any person can ask the one who uploaded it to remove (if possible) or cover her/his face if they want to. This is part of respecting whatever their reason is.

So let us be conscious of our actions. Let us remember that ignorance of law is not an excuse. Let us be careful of our actions so as not to put us in a bad situation.

This is actually the main reason on why we at the Mission always inform clients that all information/data in the case file will remain only in the office.

As part of always being conscious of the said Ordinance, we also would like to take this opportunity to announce that the Mission will institute certain rules to protect our clients and also to protect the Mission while it is carrying out its mandate in serving the migrant workers.

Every client of the Mission will be asked to sign a sort of permission in getting information whenever they ask the Mission’s assistance in relation to their problems or cases. This is to protect both of us.


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This is the monthly column from the Mission for Migrant Workers, an institution that has been serving the needs of migrant workers in Hong Kong for over 31 years. The Mission, headed by its general manager, Cynthia Tellez, assists migrant workers who are in distress, and  focuses its efforts on crisis intervention and prevention through migrant empowerment. Mission has its offices at St John’s Cathedral on Garden Road, Central, and may be reached through tel. no. 2522 8264.

Labor chiefs to meet on window cleaning, illegal recruitment

By Vir B. Lumicao

Bello seeks ban on window clearning

Philippine labor secretary Silvestre Bello III is due to meet his Hong Kong counterpart, Matthew Cheung, on Friday, Sept. 23, to discuss a range of issues affecting Filipino domestic workers, including taking out window cleaning from the list of domestic work.

Labor Attache Jalilo de la Torre said Secretary Bello  will arrive at 10 am on Friday, and after a short break, will go into the meeting with Cheung,

They are expected to talk about issues affecting the 1185,000 Filipino domestic workers, particularly a proposal to exclude cleaning windows from their daily chores.

The work puts lives at risk

The move came in the wake of a series of incidents involving domestic workers falling from high-rise buildings while cleaning windows.

It was one of the issues brought up by United Filipinos-Migrante Hong Kong during a recent rally held to call for higher pay and better work security.

Ad for the fake jobs

Also on the agenda is an appeal for help by some 500 Filipino migrant workers who were victimized in a multi-million dollar recruitment fraud for supposed jobs in Britain and Canada.

The claimants are asking for help from both governments to consolidate their cases so they can get their money back quickly, and for the police to investigate recruiter Ester Ylagan for alleged fraud.

Labatt de la Torre said Cheung had initially proposed a Monday meeting, but Bello asked if they could meet earlier.

“It’s good Secretary Cheung agreed to move the meeting forward,” de la Torre said.

Secretary Bello is flying back to Manila on Sunday night.

Also on Bello’s agenda is a visit to the Bethune House Migrant Women’s Refuge on Saturday, and a meeting with Filipino community leaders at the University of Hong Kong on Sunday afternoon, which is being coordinated by Unifil.

During the consultation, Unifil plans to present the long-standing demands of Filipino workers, including the strict implementation of the government’s no placement fee policy, scrapping of many of the fees imposed on OFWs, and a clarification of the recent resolution abolishing the overseas employment certificate.

Secretary Bello will be accompanied by incoming OWWA Administrator Rebecca Calzado and a couple of new appointees, but without POEA Administrator Hans Cacdac.